SUMMARY
• Choosing a pattern that's the right style and size for you and that matches
your skill level will help you achieve better sewing results.
• Both the pattern catalog and pattern envelope have information about the
style and fit of a pattern.
• To determine your correct pattern size, compare your measurements with the
pattern charts.
• Certain fabrics require special sewing techniques and are not good choices
for beginning sewers.
• Purchase all the notions for a project when you buy the fabric.
• Choose notions with care so that they are suitable for the fabric you've
selected.
REVIEW and Activities
RECALLING THE FACTS
1. What can you learn from the front of a pattern envelope?
2. What information is listed on the back of a pattern envelope?
3. Name three characteristics of easy-to sew patterns.
4. How are accurate body measurements taken?
5. How do you determine your figure type?
6. If body measurements differ from a pat tern size, what should you do?
7. If two people are different sizes, could they share the same pattern? Explain.
8. What is the difference between wearing ease and design ease?
9. Do you have to use the fabrics suggested on a pattern envelope? Explain.
10. List at least five fabrics that a beginning sewer should avoid.
11. How
do you decide how much fabric to buy?
12. Why is extra yardage needed for
some fabrics?
13. Why should notions be purchased at the same time as your
fabric?
14. Why do some buttons come with a shank?
15. Why is interfacing
used?
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE
1. Easy-to-sew patterns. Look through a pattern catalog and select patterns
that beginning sewers might use. In writing, identify which features make each
pat tern easy to sew.
2. Pattern size. Take your measurements. Then determine the pattern size that
would be right for you.
3. Garment fabrics. Collect photographs of garments from fashion magazines and sales catalogs. Choose examples that identify the fabric. Then find similar
garments in a pattern catalog. How do the suggested fabrics on the pattern
com pare with those in the photographs? In writing, explain possible reasons
for any differences.
4. Notions. Visit the notions department in a store. Research the types and prices of thread, zippers, buttons, snaps, hooks and eyes, tapes, trims, and elastics. Put the results in chart form.
5. Home decorating project. Visit a fabric store and select a pattern for
a home furnishings project. Note the recommended fabrics listed on the pattern
envelope. Look around the store for fabrics suitable for home decorating. What
types of fibers, fabrics, and finishes are most common? How do they differ
from fabrics used for garments? Summarize your findings in a report.
Underhanded Uniquizing Effort Sub-Series:
Wiki Sewing
Needle Positions
Needle position is usually controlled by the stitch width adjustment. The
more positions that the needle can be placed in, the more accurately you'll
be able to sew.
Stitch width is available on sewing machines that have zigzag capabilities.
It adjusts the width of the stitches. When a change in the stitch width is
used with a straight stitch, the position of the needle is changed from the
normal center position.
Being able to use the various parts of the presser foot as a guide while sewing,
in conjunction with being able to change the needle position, allows you to
keep your stitching straight and where you want the stitching to be. This is
especially helpful in topstitching and under-stitching.
1. Math. Use on-line resources to select a pattern for a
garment or a home decorating project that you would like to make. List the
fabric yardage and notions needed. Then visit a fabric store to check prices.
Compute how much the pattern, fabric, and notions will cost for the garment
or project.
2. Internet. Use Internet or print resources to research
measuring techniques for home decorating projects, such as curtains, drapes,
pillows, bedspreads, bed skirts, table cloths, place mats, napkins, and table
runners. Create a chart that lists measuring guidelines for home decorating
projects.
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